Thursday, November 18, 2010

Global Operation, the "most compelling, hard-hitting crime drama on the web" based on the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) had a "red carpet" fund-raising event in Hollywood last month, but the webisode that was supposed to come out months ago has yet to make an appearance.

The State Department's QDDR that's supposed to come out months ago also has yet to make an official appearance. But an unofficial draft QDDR apparently shared with lawmakers yesterday, Wednesday, appeared online at 6:55 PM EST the same day. The presentation is a good teaser, and the QDDR wins the red ribbon but we still are looking forward to reading the full report.

You can read the document here. Marked NODIS for no distribution but is now obviously, ALLDIS.

"To advance American interests and values and to lead other nations in solving shared problems in the 21st century, we must rely on our diplomats and development experts as the first face of American power. We must lead through civilian power," states the draft, which is marked NODIS (meaning no distribution) but was obtained by the Washington Post.

The document also proposes a host of new organizations to be established within the State Department: These include an Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environmental Affairs, which will include a new Bureau of International Energy Affairs; a Special Coordinator for Sanctions and Illicit Finance; and an Office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, which would include a new Bureau for Crisis and Conflict Operations. The current Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) would be incorporated into this bureau.